Witnesses recall valiant I-75 rescue

Published: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:21 p.m.

As an Ocala dump truck driver severely burned in an Interstate 75 crash remains hospitalized, three witnesses to the horrific crash on Saturday recalled how fellow motorists quickly jumped into action to help save the driver.

They also recollected the fight and determination shown by the driver in contributing to his own rescue.

While the three men downplayed their roles in Thursday's I-75 rescue, the one thing they all agreed on was they were part of a team that did all it could to save 56-year-old Keith Mahabirsingh — who never gave up trying to free himself from the burning truck.

By any means necessary, the men said Saturday, Mahabirsingh was not going to die on their watch.

“How could you look at somebody and say I can't help you?” asked Dale Graham, one of the men who dragged Mahabirsingh to safety. “I was glad I was there to help.”

Graham was never supposed to be on I-75, much less driving through Ocala.

Days before the accident, Graham saw a 2006 BMW M3 on eBay, made a down payment on the car and planned on driving to Houston on Friday, where the seller lives, to close the deal. Instead, Graham said he decided to go a day earlier.

“Things happen for a reason,” said Graham, who lives in Orlando.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the 2006 Peterbilt truck driven by Mahabirsingh was heading south on I-75 a few miles south of State Road 200 when the tire blew out. The truck slammed into the guardrail, overturned on the driver's side and burst into flames.

Motorists stopped, busted out the windows of the truck and pulled Mahabirsingh out. He had burns over approximately 50 percent of his body.

A spokesperson at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville said Friday that Mahabirsingh was in critical condition at the facility.

Troopers identified Graham, Ray Johnson and Kevin Alliss as witnesses to the crash.

An independent medical delivery services contractor, Johnson made the trip to Ocala to drop off supplies. He was returning home to Riverview after completing his assignment when he saw Mahabirsingh's truck, which was hauling limerock, strike the guard rail and burst into flames.

Johnson drove pass the mangled truck, stopped, exited his vehicle and ran to the truck because, he said, whoever was inside needed help, and they needed it fast.

Jumping onto the front of the truck, Johnson quickly retreated because of the intense heat. With his fire extinguisher, however, Johnson said he quickly applied fire retardant to the front of the truck.

Alliss, a truck driver from Sarasota on his way to Texas heading northbound on I-75, saw the crash and he, too, grabbed his fire extinguisher and assisted Johnson in trying to suppress as much fire as they could.

Unsuccessful at slowing the flames, and with Mahabirsingh trapped inside, the men took turns slamming their fire extinguishers against the front windshield in an attempt at breaking the glass.

As the heat intensified, Johnson said he saw Mahabirsingh moving.

“I yelled, ‘he's alive,' ” Johnson said.

That was when the men, now joined by Graham, began grabbing any and everything — a metal pole, crowbar, a hammer, stones, pieces of wood – and hit the front windshield.

After each bang, the men had to retreat because of the heat. As they banged and banged, the men said Mahabirsingh was pushing against the front windshield. Graham said Mahabirsingh was not yelling, but continued pushing against the windshield.

Mahabirsingh was able to force himself part way out of the burning truck. With about half his body out, the men quickly grabbed him and dragged him away.

“We were exhausted,” Johnson said.

The job, though, was not over.

Graham said other rescuers who happened upon the accident scene — including law enforcement officials from Pasco and Broward counties who directed traffic, a nurse who placed a blanket over the burned man, people giving Mahabirsingh water — all converged.

“It was the miracle team,” Alliss said.

“It was about people coming together to get the job done,” Graham said.

For his efforts, Johnson suffered second-degree burns on his left arm. Graham, too, had minor burns. Despite their injuries, Johnson and Graham said it was a small price to pay for helping to rescue someone.

“I was glad I was there to help,” Graham said.

All three men said it was the least they could do and added that if the roles were reversed, they hope someone would do the same for them.

<p>As an Ocala dump truck driver severely burned in an Interstate 75 crash remains hospitalized, three witnesses to the horrific crash on Saturday recalled how fellow motorists quickly jumped into action to help save the driver.</p><p>They also recollected the fight and determination shown by the driver in contributing to his own rescue.</p><p>While the three men downplayed their roles in Thursday's I-75 rescue, the one thing they all agreed on was they were part of a team that did all it could to save 56-year-old Keith Mahabirsingh — who never gave up trying to free himself from the burning truck.</p><p>By any means necessary, the men said Saturday, Mahabirsingh was not going to die on their watch.</p><p>“How could you look at somebody and say I can't help you?” asked Dale Graham, one of the men who dragged Mahabirsingh to safety. “I was glad I was there to help.”</p><p>Graham was never supposed to be on I-75, much less driving through Ocala.</p><p>Days before the accident, Graham saw a 2006 BMW M3 on eBay, made a down payment on the car and planned on driving to Houston on Friday, where the seller lives, to close the deal. Instead, Graham said he decided to go a day earlier.</p><p>“Things happen for a reason,” said Graham, who lives in Orlando.</p><p>Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the 2006 Peterbilt truck driven by Mahabirsingh was heading south on I-75 a few miles south of State Road 200 when the tire blew out. The truck slammed into the guardrail, overturned on the driver's side and burst into flames.</p><p>Motorists stopped, busted out the windows of the truck and pulled Mahabirsingh out. He had burns over approximately 50 percent of his body.</p><p>A spokesperson at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville said Friday that Mahabirsingh was in critical condition at the facility.</p><p>Troopers identified Graham, Ray Johnson and Kevin Alliss as witnesses to the crash.</p><p>An independent medical delivery services contractor, Johnson made the trip to Ocala to drop off supplies. He was returning home to Riverview after completing his assignment when he saw Mahabirsingh's truck, which was hauling limerock, strike the guard rail and burst into flames.</p><p>Johnson drove pass the mangled truck, stopped, exited his vehicle and ran to the truck because, he said, whoever was inside needed help, and they needed it fast.</p><p>Jumping onto the front of the truck, Johnson quickly retreated because of the intense heat. With his fire extinguisher, however, Johnson said he quickly applied fire retardant to the front of the truck.</p><p>Alliss, a truck driver from Sarasota on his way to Texas heading northbound on I-75, saw the crash and he, too, grabbed his fire extinguisher and assisted Johnson in trying to suppress as much fire as they could.</p><p>Unsuccessful at slowing the flames, and with Mahabirsingh trapped inside, the men took turns slamming their fire extinguishers against the front windshield in an attempt at breaking the glass.</p><p>As the heat intensified, Johnson said he saw Mahabirsingh moving.</p><p>“I yelled, 'he's alive,' ” Johnson said.</p><p>That was when the men, now joined by Graham, began grabbing any and everything — a metal pole, crowbar, a hammer, stones, pieces of wood – and hit the front windshield.</p><p>After each bang, the men had to retreat because of the heat. As they banged and banged, the men said Mahabirsingh was pushing against the front windshield. Graham said Mahabirsingh was not yelling, but continued pushing against the windshield.</p><p>Mahabirsingh was able to force himself part way out of the burning truck. With about half his body out, the men quickly grabbed him and dragged him away.</p><p>“We were exhausted,” Johnson said.</p><p>The job, though, was not over.</p><p>Graham said other rescuers who happened upon the accident scene — including law enforcement officials from Pasco and Broward counties who directed traffic, a nurse who placed a blanket over the burned man, people giving Mahabirsingh water — all converged.</p><p>“It was the miracle team,” Alliss said.</p><p>“It was about people coming together to get the job done,” Graham said.</p><p>For his efforts, Johnson suffered second-degree burns on his left arm. Graham, too, had minor burns. Despite their injuries, Johnson and Graham said it was a small price to pay for helping to rescue someone.</p><p>“I was glad I was there to help,” Graham said.</p><p>All three men said it was the least they could do and added that if the roles were reversed, they hope someone would do the same for them.</p>